Canadian short-track relay teams a World Cup relay gold and two silver

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/11/2021 (1387 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEBRECEN, Hungary – Canada’s short-track speedskating relay teams won a gold medal and two silver Sunday in a World Cup in Hungary.

The men’s relay team captured gold ahead of runner-up South Korea and host Hungary in third.

Charles Hamelin of Sainte-Julie, Que., Steven Dubois of Lachenaie, Que., Montreal’s Pascal Dion and Jordan Pierre-Gilles of Sherbrooke, Que., have won back-to-back men’s relays.

Hamelin’s inside pass with eight laps remaining moved Canada into the lead before he exchanged with Pierre-Gilles.

The Canadians continued to gain speed and crossed the finish line well in front.

The women’s team of Kim Boutin of Sherbrooke, Que., Moncton’s Courtney Sarault, Montreal’s Alyson Charles and Florence Brunelle of Trois-Rivières, Que., earned silver behind the Netherlands and ahead of bronze medallist China.

Hamelin, Brunelle, Dubois and Montreal’s Camille de Serres-Rainville also picked up silver in the mixed relay.

China won gold and France took bronze.

Dion also won individual silver in the men’s 1,000 for a third consecutive World Cup medal in the distance.

The 27-year-old led with two laps remaining, but dropped to second when he and teammate Pierre-Gilles bumped while the latter was trying to pass.

The contact allowed South Korea’s Hwang Daeheon to overtake both Canadians for gold. Itzhak de Laat of the Netherlands was third.

Pierre-Gilles was penalized for a late pass and relegated to fifth.

The final World Cup of the short-track season is next week in Dordrecht, Netherlands.

It’s the last chance for Canadian skaters to secure Olympic quota spots and put themselves in contention to be named to the team for Beijing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2021.